Conductor clamp



Aug 18, 1931- l N. A. WAHLBERG 1,819,533

cNDUcToR CLAMP y Filed July :5.0. 1927 INVENTOR Nils A.Wc|hlber'g.

TTORNEY l:is

Patented Aug. 18, 1931 A i UNITED VsrAl'rEs OFF NILs A.' WAIILBERG, on WILKINsBURe, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoR Iro WEsTINGHoIJsE y ELECTRIC a, MANUFACTURING CoMPANnn CoRIORA'IBION` oFPENNsYLvnNIA CONDUCTOR CLAMP 'Appli-cation filed July 30, 1927. Serial No. 203,441',`

My invention relates to conductor clamps and particularly to clamps for suspending high-voltage transmission-line conductors.

One object of my invention is to provide 51a device, of the above-indicated character,

that shall embody novel mounting means including a single-piece yoke and other' elements in combination to effect improved operating, manufacturing and assembling char- 10 acteristics thereof.

Another object of my invention is tofprovide a conductor-suspension clamp that shall embody means for temporarily holding a clamping cam in operative position While mounting the device relative to the conductor. i

Another object of my invention is coprovide a suspension clamp that shall embody pivotal-mounting trunnions at opposite sides of the conductor and a single-piece suspending yoke for removable cooperation therewith.v v Y l A A further object of my invention is toV provide a suspension clamp that shall be simple 'K II-II of'Fig. 1.

and durable in construction, economicalrto manufacture and effective in its operation.

In suspension-insulator-clamp practice, it has been suggested to provide a clamp that normally holds thecconductor securely, but that, under abnormal conditions, such as the breaking of the conductor-betweenspans, will release the conductor to prevent undue strains ontheinsulators, towers and other adjacent parts. v j A As a further improvementin the operation of such devices, it has also been suggested to pivotally connect a relatively niovablelconductor-receiving or channel member and -a mounting yoke therefor on alined axes at opposite sides of the conductor ydirected through the conductor aXis so that line oscillations may pass freely through the clamp without imposing undue strains on the adj acent mounting parts.

In the provision of a device incorporating the above-mentioned features, ycertain diliiculties of construction and assembly have occurred, such as the're'quirement` for asplit yoke, a cam member that presents some difficulty during its mounting and otherr features.

be' of: improved construction, of simplified manufactureand easier to-assemble. y

Accordingly, inapracticing my invention, I

provide a suspension clamp comprising a conductor-receiving member, a singlepiece yoke structure, trunnions for so connecting the l' yoke andthe conductor-receiving member along an l.axis substantially in a plane of the conductor aXis and a cam ymember that may be so temporarily positioned before the reception of Tal pivot `pin for holding the same in position as to attain` the objects of my in- Y vention and to provide a materially improved clamp.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side view, partially in elevation and Apartially'in section,'of a suspension clamp constructed in accordance with my'invention, and

Fig. 2 is a view substantially along theline The Ydevice comprises, in general, a main body or conductor-receiver channel member 2 for supporting a conductor 3, a clamp-shoe member 4, a leaf-spring member 5 on the shoe 4, a cam member 7 mountedfbetween upwardly extending clevis portions 8 on the body member 2, an upper single-piece yoke member 10, trunnions 12 at the sides-of the body member 2 and a lower structure 14 for mounting the trunnions relative to the yoke member 10 i and to the bodymember 2.

The *bodyA member 2; preferably in the -form of'a single integral metal casting, comprises vided for clamping the conductor that shall flared end surfaces 23 which cooperate with j the flared ends 18 of the channel member 2, in

a usual manner, to assist in preventing concentration of bending forces in the conductor at a local position adjacent to these ends. The shoe member 4 also, comprises laterally extending lugs 24 cooperating with the recessed portions 17 to position the shoe longitudinally of the conductor and laterally extending upper lugs 25 which engage the upper edge of the channel sides to limit the downward movement of the shoe when theV conductor 3 is not in position.

The spring 5, preferably constructed l of strap or leaf steel, extends along the upper side of the shoe 4 in slightly outwardly bowed relation thereto and is held in position, at its ends, by lugs or shoulders 27 on the shoe 4 adjacentto the ends thereof. The lugs 27 may initially be formed for the ready reception of thespring and then bent to the positions shown or they may initially bepermanently formed to receive the spring laterally or endwise. Y

The cam member 7 has a centrally apertured boss portion 28 for the reception of a pin 31, downwardly projecting cam portion 29 for engagementfwith the spring- 5, and diverging arm portions 30'opposite the cam portion 29..

The yoke' member 10 comprises legs 32 embracing the upper portion of the channel member 2, apertured side lugs 33 on the legs 32 for supporting an arcing ring or other electrostatic field-controlling device (not shown), lugs 34 for assisting in positioning such device, bearingV portions 35 at the free ends ofthe legs 32 for cooperation with the trunnions 12, and a socket-mounting portion 36 adjoining the upper endsof the Vlegs'32 v and adapted for the reception of a ball-headed pin (not shown) of a suspension insulator structure. A portion 37 projects or depends from the portion 36 to a position between the .to be hereinafter set forth. A clevis or other mounting portion may be substituted for the socket portion 36. x Y.

The structure 14 comprises link-like members 39 that are preferably integrally attached to the trunnions 12 and depend therefrom along the sides ofthe channel member 2 to a ositiono .'t tl l tell` f p ppl e le a m y apar Vbreaking of the conductor, causes the insutured portion 19 in the channel member 2, where the links are apertured for the recep- -tion of av bolt 40 that extends through the portion 19 and is heldin position, as by a nut 41. Portions 42 of the links 39 cooperate :with the'lugs 2O on the body member 2 to prevent rotative movement of the links about the axis of the bolt 40.`

In mounting the conductor in the clamp, it is passed between the sides of the channel member 2 to the position shown, and the clamp shoe 4, bearing the spring 5, passed arms 30 on the cam member 7 for a purpose inwardly between the portions S to its position on the conductor. The cam member 7, in a position turned substantially 90 relative to that shown in the drawings about its supporting pin 31, is next inserted between the clevis portions 8.

Ordinarily, the cam would have to be held manually in position for the reception of the pin 31. However, in accordance with one of the features of this invention, the clevis portions 8 are provided with means, in the form of inwardly projecting arcuate seat portions 44 substantially conforming to ends of the boss portion 23 of the cam member 7, whereby the latter may be accurately temporarily positioned before the insertion of the pin 31. y Y

The cam member 7 may then be returned to the position shown in the drawings to have the cam portion 29 depress the spring 5 and'` clamp the shoe 4 in position against the conductor. This clamping action may be effected by the portion 37 after the mounting of the yoke 10, as hereinafter described.

With the parts assembled as above described, the links 39, bearing the trunnions 12, are placed in operative relation to the yoke member 10, by placing the trunnions in the bearing portions 35 in the positions illus- These parts may then be passed over the sides of the channel to a position in which the projection 37 is disposed between the arms 30 on the cam member 7 and in which the bolt 40 mayT be inserted through the links and the portion 19 of the member 2.

With the cam member turned to releasing position, the yoke 10 and the links 39 may be turned relatively and mounted in operative position for the reception of the bolt 40 and* with the projection 37 between the arms 30. By turning the yoke 10, the clamping action -may be effected after all of the parts are assembled.

In operation, there is sufiicient play bef the conducto-r 3, without affecting the clamping action of the portion 29 on the spring 5. When an abnormal condition, such as the lator string, on which the clamp is mounted to swing through a relatively great angle` from its normal substantially vertical position, the projection 37 engages one of the arms 30 to release the shoe 4 and the conductor 3.

izo

The latter, thus released, slips through the v channel member 2 until the deflecting force on the insulator is reduced, when the clamp parts tend to resume the normal clamping positions thereof. This tendencycauses the.

clamp t'o retard further slipping of the conductor.

The operation of the device is in accordance with the operation of another device previously known to me but the construction of parts whereby a single-piece yoke, of the form of the yoke 10, may be employed and so readily mounted is of my invention.

This yoke is especially applicable and of particular importance in a slip clamp of the above description, wherein the t-runnions 12 are disposed opposite the side Walls of the channel member 2. With the trunnions fixed to the channel member or to the free ends of the yoke, other means, such as splitting or Y halving the yoke at its upper` end, may be required to place the parts in operative relation.

By my invention, a convenient and practical structure is provided for mounting the trunnions from a local base center in the member 2 independently of the side Walls thereof, that permits the yoke 10 to be a singlo integral casting or otherwise-formed element and that so facilitates mounting of the cam member 7 and other parts as to materially improve the device.

While I have shown and described a particular form of my invention, changes may be effected therein Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A clamp comprising a conductor-receiving portion, a clevis having inner arcuate seat portions about the openings thereof, a pin for said openings and a clamp member for mounting on the pin in the clevis toclamp the conductor relative to said receiving portion and having portions conforming to, and for disposal on, said seat portions.

2. A clamp comprising a conductor-receiving member, a vclevis element, a pin for the clevis and a clamp element for mounting on the pin in the clevis to clamp the conductor relative to said receiving member, one of said elements having a seat and the other element having a portion adapted for positioning on said seat for temporarily holding said elements together for the reception of the pin.

8. In combination, a clevis element, a pin for the clevis, and an element for mounting on the pin in the clevis, one of said elements having a seat and the other element having a portion adapted for positioning on said seat for temporarily holding said elements t0- gether for the reception of the pin.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23rd day of July, 1927.

NILS A. WAI-ILBERG. 

